Pretty awesome as one might expect from this match up. Fujiwara is brilliant as always, I love how he tries to catch Maeda’s kicks but they still sneak through and hurt him. They do a great restart with both guys roll to the floor while kneebarring each other and get counted out, and I think it was a nomination even with that as a finish. Then they restart the match and go another 10 minutes or so and it was just great, I loved the finish too, with Fujiwara ankle picking Maeda while Maeda was choking him, and Fujiawara going out, including a drool sell. Awesome, awesome shit, Slam Dunk nomination, #1 match contender.

 

Best of NJPW v. UWF 2, Disc 1

This was JIP on TV, so we want to use the Classics version. But I saw enough to agree with Phil's nomination. They upped the intensity from their January meeting, and I always love a good restart. It was obvious that the crowd was still learning the style, however, because they seemed caught off guard by the ending. I guess they couldn't see Fujiwara's superb drooling.

 

NJ Classics 225

Akira Maeda vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara

- Phil was mad at me for not watching the Maeda match from the last classics so I watched this one to placate him. Great work in the beginning trading holds until Maeda decides he has had enough of that shit and just starts unloading on Fujiwara with kicks to the back. Maeda takes over and controls until he misses a spinning kick in the corner. Fujiwara attempts a takeover but Maeda recovers. After a neat little roll out of the ring, both guys reset the match and you can tell Fujiwara wants to avoid those Maeda kicks. Fujiwara dropping Maeda into the armbar with spit drooling out of his mouth onto Maeda’s arm was a great visual. Now it is Maeda’s turn to be tentative since he doesn’t want to get too close because Fujiwara keeps dropping him into the armbar. Great turn of events. The ending was great as I seriously had no idea who was going to tap out first. Easy nomination.

Akira Maeda vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara (2/5/86)

 

Now this is a matchup that probably rarely failed to be a solid match. I loved the early back and forth exchanges leading to Maeda just teeing off on Fujiwara before Fujiwara would find a way to take it back to the mat and eventually using a leglock that would take both men to the floor for a double countout. Everyone wants a restart of course and we get it that would deliver in every way. Fujiwara knows that Maeda will be bringing the kick game but he is ready and stops him in his tracks by roughhousing him in the corner. Maeda would finally sneak some kicks in that would send Fujiwara to the floor to regroup before going back to the ring and taking the action back to the mat. Fujiwara locking on the wakigatame out of nowhere was great and to Maeda’s credit he fought it with all he had eventually getting to the ropes but Fujiwara would find ways to get him back down where Maeda actually choked out Fujiwara after an ankle pick featuring Fujiwara drooling all over himself to sell the choke. The finish was out of nowhere which was great along with Maeda selling the effects of the work on his leg that Fujiwara had done before the choke. This was fantastic hard-hitting action and a definite nomination.